This week, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been involved in a bit of a shuffle that saw two ex-Chicago Bears players at the center of the action. In a two-fold maneuver, the Steelers waved goodbye to wide receiver Anthony Miller while welcoming linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski to their ranks.
It's a homecoming for Kwiatkoski, a Pittsburgh native and lifelong Steelers fan. Selected by the Bears in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of West Virginia, Kwiatkoski spent four seasons in the Windy City before stints with the Las Vegas Raiders and the Atlanta Falcons. His standout season came in 2019, where he put up 76 combined tackles, notched a career-high three sacks, eight tackles for loss, four passes defensed, and snatched an interception.
On the flip side, the Steelers ended their relationship with Anthony Miller, who had barely warmed up his spot on the team. Miller's tenure with the Steelers, extended by a one-year contract in January, was marred by an injury that kept him out for the entire last season. He suited up for the Steelers just once, in which he reeled in a single catch for two yards.
Miller, originally drafted by the Bears in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft from Memphis, had his career-best year in 2019, netting 656 receiving yards. The receiver moved to the Houston Texans prior to the 2021 season, but his stint there was cut short after just two games. Now, his future is once again up in the air after the Steelers' decision to release him.
